BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1249
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Date of Hearing: April 29, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
Cathleen Galgiani, Chair
AB 1249 (Galgiani) - As Introduced: February 27, 2009
SUBJECT : Emergency carcass disposal.
SUMMARY : Creates an exception upon the declaration of a state
of emergency or a local emergency, to the rules governing the
transportation of dead animals by licensed dead animal haulers
(hauler). Specifically, this bill :
1)Allows a state of emergency or a local emergency as an
additional emergency waiver to regulating animal carcass
disposal.
2)Allows the state veterinarian (SV) to issue a permit to a
hauler or an individual hauling his or her own animals to
transport the dead animals to a properly permitted landfill
if:
a) A state of emergency or a local emergency is declared;
or,
b) A hauler has a certification from a licensed renderer
that the renderer can not process dead animals due to a
lack of capacity, or legal or regulatory rules.
EXISTING LAW prohibits a hauler or any other person to transport
a dead animal anywhere except to: a licensed rendering plant; a
licensed collection center; an animal disease diagnostic
laboratory satisfactory to the California Department of Food and
Agriculture; the nearest crematory; or, to an approved
destination in another state unless a wavier has been granted by
the SV under his or her authority to impose a quarantine. (Food
and Agriculture Code Section 19348)
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. This bill is keyed fiscal by
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS : During a heat wave in 2006, the central valley
experienced a large number of livestock deaths. These deaths
overwhelmed the normal system of dead animal disposal. The SV
used his or her quarantine authority to employ alternative
AB 1249
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disposal methods and to protect public health. It is unclear if
it is appropriate for the SV to use quarantine authority in this
manner. This bill would give clear authority to the SV to
protect health and safety quickly in an extreme situation.
According to the sponsor, Pacific Coast Rendering Association,
rendering is the preferred method of animal carcass disposal.
It is the most environmentally sound method and protects human
health and safety.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Pacific Coast Rendering Association (sponsor)
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916)
319-2084